How to resolve the "Hold for Authentication" error when using Mobility Print on macOS

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Overview

Sometimes, when printing from a Mac, the job appears to pause in the print queue window with the message Hold for Authentication. This error indicates that the credentials that the Mac is providing are being rejected by the print server. 

Issue

If you've accidentally saved incorrect credentials for printing in Keychain Access or you've changed your MHC password since the last time you printed, the prompt to print won’t pop up. Instead, if the user opens the print queue window, it will show “Hold for Authentication”.

Resolution

  1. Open Keychain Access. You can find it in your Launchpad, or by searching for it.

  2. In the Keychain Access window, you'll find all of your saved passwords. Search for LITS

  3. When you find the password for LITS-Public-Cloud or LITS-FacStaff-Cloud, double-click on it. Select the Delete option.

  4. Retry printing to LITS-Public-Cloud.

  5. You will receive a prompt requesting name & password for the printer. Use your MHC username ONLY (no @mtholyoke.edu) and MHC password before choosing OK.

    • Note that your computer will autofill your computer account username. Remove that and replace it with your MHC username.

  6. 6. You’re done! The printer icon will bounce in your dock and then disappear -- Success! Your print job has left your computer and is in the cloud waiting for you to tap and release at the public MFD. 

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Use Mobility Print to print from personal computers and mobile devices to MFDs across campus.